“That's Not How I Heard lt…” 

CD of Australian Poetry by Jason Roweth

Reviewed by Chris Woodland

December 2014 - Mulga Wire

 

Jason and Chloe Roweth need no introduction to the Australian folk community and beyond. Their vocal and instrumental abilities, interpretations and achievements have contributed much to the Australian heritage. The delight and great satisfaction to us older fogies in knowing that such a relatively young couple have committed themselves to adopting, spreading and continuing the tradition that people like John Meredith and others fought for.

This album is different to all their other productions as this time Jason is the solo vocalist (albeit the spoken word), though Chloe's mandolin and, no doubt, her less-obvious contributions have added to the success of this CD. Yes, there are instrumental excerpts on this album of poetry; beautiful old tunes known to most of us.

The poetry titles are well known to me and no doubt to most others interested in traditional bush poetry. Jason recites four of the Banjo's: Shearing at Castlereagh, Been There Before, How Gilbert Died and Clancy of the Overflow. Jason performs Ted Harrington's humorous The Swagless Swaggie, along with Lawson's more serious, but excellent time-tested poems, The Green-Hand Rouseabout, The Shearers and On the Night Train very ably.

Jack Moses's When the Police Force Couldn't Spell is guaranteed to get a laugh for listeners of Jason's interpretation.

Presentations of his mate's work, the late John Dengate, are very well executed. These are: The Lanes of Woolloomooloo, and Australian Made. I consider the former to be the best, or as good as the best, Australian war poem ever. I am showing my bias, but have to say that the CD is worth getting for these two poems of John's. (And to think that all those other well-recited poems come with them!)

Denis Kevans’ hilarious When the Monkeys Rode the Greyhounds and his emotive White Man, Have You Any Sacred Sites? are thoughtful inclusions to this album.

Many years ago Duke Tritton would say to members of the Bush Music Club, that when you sang, it should be with venom. I am sure the Duke would have been more than satisfied with Jason's nterpretation of Duke's own, powerful poem, The Sandy Hollow Line.

I am very pleased that Jason and Chloe have added the spoken word to their long list of achievements. I have heard Jason reciting on stage at a couple of venues and am now very pleased to have his recitations on CD. He is a fine reciter who recites with feeling, good diction and a strong Australian voice.

The selected passages of tunes add to the production, making toe-tapping distinctions between poems. Of course, I highly recommend that people with interest in the Australian spoken word, or those that feel it time they were introduced to quality bush poetry recitations - traditional and a couple of more recent ones - would be more than happy with this CD in their collection.